caparison my courser. Till then adieu!

* * * * *

Here the conversation, in a connected form, ceased; and it was
resolved that Philemon and myself should accompany Lisardo on the
morrow.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: FARI QUAE SENTIAT]

PART III.

=The Auction Room.=

CHARACTER OF ORLANDO.

OF ANCIENT PRICES OF BOOKS, AND BOOK-BINDING.

BOOK-AUCTION BIBLIOMANIACS.

"As to the late method used in selling books by AUCTION in
London, I suppose that many have paid dear for their
experience in this way--it being apparent that most books
bought in an auction may be had cheaper in booksellers'
shops."

CLAVEL: _Cat. of Books for 1680, Pref._

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

=The Auction Room.=

CHARACTER OF ORLANDO.
OF ANCIENT PRICES OF BOOKS, AND BOOK-BINDING.
BOOK AUCTION BIBLIOMANIACS.

Never, surely, did two mortals set off upon any expedition with
greater glee and alacrity than did Lisardo and Philemon for the sale,
by auction, of GONZALVO'S bibliographical library. The great pains
which Lysander had taken in enumerating the various foreign and
domestic writers upon Bibliography, with his occasionally animated
eulogies upon some favourite author had quite inflamed the sanguine
mind of Lisardo; who had already, in anticipation, fancied himself in
possession of every book which he had heard described. Like Homer's
high-bred courser, who

--ere he starts, a thousand steps are lost--

our young bibliomaniac began to count up his volumes, arrange his
shelves, bespeak his binder, and revel in the luxury of a splendid
and nearly matchless collection. The distance from my house to the
scene of action being thirteen miles, Lisardo, during the first six,
had pretty nearly exhausted himself in describing the delightful
pictures which his ardent fancy had formed; and finding the
conversation beginning to flag, Philemon, with his usual good-nature
and judgment, promised to make a pleasing digression from the dry
subject of book-catalogues, by an episode with which the reader shall
be presently gratified. Having promised to assist them both, when we
arrived at Messrs. L. and S., in the Strand, with some information
relating to the prices of such books as they stood in need of, and to
the various book-collectors who attended public sales, Lisardo
expressed himself highly obliged by the promise; and, sinking quietly
into